man figures out one of the most musically sophisticated pop groups ever's (possibly by ear) best song, graciously posts a thorough easy lesson on how to play it and still has to apologize because he may not have these crazy chord names right because he knows he'll likely get eviscerated in the comment section lol. Gotta love these times! Thank you so much for this, Tyler.
yup, like that one troll who comments on the click sound of the keys and the fact that it's a casio. Hey, neckbeard, try playing some of this music yourself, k
It's broken down so nicely into easily digested parts and now I've got it. This shaves many hours off of the learning process. Much appreciation to you for providing your skills! Perfect for anyone who can't read notation.
Tyler you are u the man! Awesome tutorial!!! I know it was 7 years ago - wish you would resurface and post some more. Thanks so much for sharing your talent!!
thanks so much - I worked on this song today - and I thought I was close - until I watched this - I will start over now! I'm a bassist that is teaching myself piano. I love playing the bass on this tune.
Tyler - Thank you so much for posting this video!! I am a novice and I am slowly getting this song thanks to you. There is no other video i would have even attempted but your breakdown is great. Thank you so much again. Huge fagen fan here as well !!! .
Nice work with the voicings, leaving out pitches that convulute the harmonic function and focus on the dominant color tones. Don't worry about naming all of them if complex, you spell out the pitches very well. Thanks for this!
Tyler thank you. Best piano online lesson I've used. Very easy to follow. Peg is also my favorite Steely Dan track. Please keep posting tunes. Maybe "heart to heart" Kenny Loggins or "taking it to the streets" Dobbie Bros.!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the marvellous rendition of a classic song,if i could live my life over again i would love to start with basic classical musical training and develop to composition.
bro you need to do as many steely tutorials as possible! 1st off, steely is the best to play. 2nd, I can't read music. 3rd, your tutorials are quite comprehensive... love following along!!
E = mt2 where “t squared”is Tyler Thompson THANK YOU for a breakthrough session INTEGRATING a left hand horn line with badass chords ‘upstairs’… your ear that can hear the n u a n c e s BRAVO 👏🏻 [PS in my equation above e=energy m=music…] 🎹
Really helpful for someone like me who just wants to see the pattern and couldn't really care less about chord names. I like that you trust your ear when figuring out the inversions-- it seems... trustworthy. :D
That unknown chord on the turn of the chorus (that you call some kind of Db chord) is an Aadd9 in first inversion (with the C# in the bass) it's their whole Mu chord thing where they'll ONLY play open voiced 9 chords if the root isn't in the bass (so it's ok here because the 3rd is in the bass, which is just a development of the verse motif) otherwise he plays it closed as a major 2nd interval. But the harmonic movement there fits the whole "jazzed up blues" thing they were trying to do with this song. anyway, great tutorial I always come to this video when I need to remember the chords real quick!
Tyler Thank you very much for your tutorials i'm 53 and just started playing i was getting frustrated at 1st but you make it so much fun...keep up the great work....p:s can you do some tutorials on supertramp? i always loved there catchy keyboard rifs...
Great job! Nice chord arrangement, but I would have the 'horn' part an octave higher for the right hand. I tried doubling an octave in the right hand and it adds a nice stacked feel to it. It also mimics the 'brightness' the horns bring to the original song. It's harder to play, but it adds a nice authentic feel to it. Great to play along with this video!
Thank you for the video, and thank the RUclips algorithm for bringing me to this video. Steely Dan's Peg is one of my favorite songs and an important song in the history of pop music because it's a prime example of "Jazz Rock." I think it'll be more helpful to watch Donald Fagen's kind-of tutorial video about Peg, which is also uploaded on RUclips, after watching this video.
yo man i thanked you for this tutorial a while ago when i first discovered it, but i just wanna say thanks again. i actually learned to play the full thing. practicing is something else man. thanks
Great lesson, Tyler! I have one suggestion. I think it makes more sense to play the 6/9 chords in the intro with a 3rd, 6th, 9th inversion in the right hand (e.g. B, E and A for the first G-6/9 chord with the B a perfect fourth above the F# you are playing in the video - technically a 6/9 chord does not include the major 7th anyway and the E instead of D changes the optional 5th to a 6th which is more appropriate for a 6/9 chord). Playing the 6/9 chord with this inversion requires only a simple downward shift of 1semitone from B to B flat with the right hand thumb for the second chord (F#7#9). Same sequence for the rest of the intro. I think this is actually the correct inversion, with the guitar chord in the track making it sound like a lower inversion. I could be wrong about that but in any case, this way is easier and it sounds just as good. My two cents!
Thank you for this! We have a gig coming up and our band, 20% Cooler, wanted to add this to our song list. You have just saved my bacon, because I was really struggling with the changes. Now, you wouldn't, by chance, have a lesson for Tell Me Something Good by Rufus/Chaka Khan? That's another one they added that I'm trying to work up. Again, thank you for the lesson!
Glad I can help. I do know "Tell Me Something Good" but no lesson up for it. I can tell you it's not hard to figure out and most of the chord charts online are accurate.
Hey man, your tutorials are great! Would you be able to make one for Uncle Remus by Frank Zappa, always wanted to learn that song. Could never find sheet music for it.
Good ear.. but I don't think so. It's primarily a C major blues, using mostly C maj pentatonic for the melody aside from the one F over the Gmaj. I think it falls under the "necessary dissonance" category for Fagen.
Hi. Great vid, thanks. At the V chord, it sound like fagen sings an F natural on the word "smile." The chord voicing would have to be adjusted from a GMaj7 to a quick G triad or 7th chord, no? Thanks in advance.
I thought that might be the case. Here's a vid of Fagen explaining the changes. I can't really tell, but it does look like he's playing the F# with the thumb of his right hand @ 4:23. Thanks for responding!
I just learned how to play "mary had a little lamb" I think I'm now ready to tackle this steely dan classic!
How you going with Peg?
Got it yet?
man figures out one of the most musically sophisticated pop groups ever's (possibly by ear) best song, graciously posts a thorough easy lesson on how to play it and still has to apologize because he may not have these crazy chord names right because he knows he'll likely get eviscerated in the comment section lol. Gotta love these times! Thank you so much for this, Tyler.
yup, like that one troll who comments on the click sound of the keys and the fact that it's a casio. Hey, neckbeard, try playing some of this music yourself, k
FINALLY.....someone who can teach keyboard on line......glad I stumbled on to your site
It's broken down so nicely into easily digested parts and now I've got it. This shaves many hours off of the learning process. Much appreciation to you for providing your skills! Perfect for anyone who can't read notation.
this is great, thank you. learning keyboard these days and this is solid inspiration. peg is one of the best songs ever.
Tyler you are u the man! Awesome tutorial!!! I know it was 7 years ago - wish you would resurface and post some more. Thanks so much for sharing your talent!!
freakin awesome yo!! Thank you so much kind sir!! now to practice in all 12 keys
thanks so much - I worked on this song today - and I thought I was close - until I watched this - I will start over now! I'm a bassist that is teaching myself piano. I love playing the bass on this tune.
Tyler - Thank you so much for posting this video!! I am a novice and I am slowly getting this song thanks to you. There is no other video i would have even attempted but your breakdown is great. Thank you so much again. Huge fagen fan here as well !!! .
Nice work with the voicings, leaving out pitches that convulute the harmonic function and focus on the dominant color tones. Don't worry about naming all of them if complex, you spell out the pitches very well. Thanks for this!
He just needs to show us....less talking 😂
Tyler thank you. Best piano online lesson I've used. Very easy to follow. Peg is also my favorite Steely Dan track. Please keep posting tunes. Maybe "heart to heart" Kenny Loggins or "taking it to the streets" Dobbie Bros.!!!!!!!!!!
So clear and concise. Great teaching style. Was able to copy you and program it. Perfect learning tool
love it, you make it easy to learn, and thats rare w steely dan tunes
great tutorial, best i have seen on this song. Love SD. Colin from Aus
Thank you for the marvellous rendition of a classic song,if i could live my life over again i would love to start with basic classical musical training and develop to composition.
Great tutorial I could have never been able to learn this by ear. On my own!!! fun one to play thanks
bro you need to do as many steely tutorials as possible! 1st off, steely is the best to play. 2nd, I can't read music. 3rd, your tutorials are quite comprehensive... love following along!!
E = mt2 where “t squared”is Tyler Thompson THANK YOU for a breakthrough session INTEGRATING a left hand horn line with badass chords ‘upstairs’… your ear that can hear the
n u a n c e s BRAVO 👏🏻 [PS in my equation above e=energy m=music…] 🎹
Excellent teaching.Cleared up some things for me.
nice, can't wait to get to my piano and start working this out
Thank you...going to get a keyboard now that i'm retired...easy to follow...thanks !
Solid licks! Well done, good man.
You saved my a$$ before a gig w the chorus. Ty bro. Much thanks lol
Thank you! Appreciate your work learning this and willingness to share
Really helpful for someone like me who just wants to see the pattern and couldn't really care less about chord names. I like that you trust your ear when figuring out the inversions-- it seems... trustworthy. :D
Great job Tyler! Would love to see a video for Dr. Wu by Steely Dan!
That unknown chord on the turn of the chorus (that you call some kind of Db chord) is an Aadd9 in first inversion (with the C# in the bass) it's their whole Mu chord thing where they'll ONLY play open voiced 9 chords if the root isn't in the bass (so it's ok here because the 3rd is in the bass, which is just a development of the verse motif) otherwise he plays it closed as a major 2nd interval. But the harmonic movement there fits the whole "jazzed up blues" thing they were trying to do with this song.
anyway, great tutorial I always come to this video when I need to remember the chords real quick!
Outstanding. Very grateful
Thank you thank you thank you Tyler!!! One of those always gonna learn ones. So much appreciated.
Excellent job! You made this song easy to learn!
Thank you thank you thank you!!! One of those always gonna learn ones. So much appreciated.
Awesome tutorial I learned a great deal, it was clear easy to follow now I can play it thank you so much!!
so great of you to work these out... nice job
Wow impressive, SUPER JOB, it sounds just like what Steely Dan did.
Thank you very much! Wonderful example!
Your lessons are great - I have to learn Janie Runaway Steely Dan piano?
HUGE thanks - I really needed this for an upcoming gig
Excellent lesson
Tyler Thank you very much for your tutorials i'm 53 and just started playing i was getting frustrated at 1st but you make it so much fun...keep up the great work....p:s can you do some tutorials on supertramp? i always loved there catchy keyboard rifs...
This is amazing thanks Tyler!
Thank you so much had a gig coming up!!!! and it's now allllllll graeat
Thank you very much. Wonderful Tutorial!!!!!
First chord is G Maj 9 for the nomenclature sticklers.
Thanks for that, I was wondering what he was talking about with the 6.
Great job! Nice chord arrangement, but I would have the 'horn' part an octave higher for the right hand. I tried doubling an octave in the right hand and it adds a nice stacked feel to it. It also mimics the 'brightness' the horns bring to the original song. It's harder to play, but it adds a nice authentic feel to it. Great to play along with this video!
Thanks! Lovely!
Thank you so much for teaching me this song!
Thank you for the video, and thank the RUclips algorithm for bringing me to this video. Steely Dan's Peg is one of my favorite songs and an important song in the history of pop music because it's a prime example of "Jazz Rock." I think it'll be more helpful to watch Donald Fagen's kind-of tutorial video about Peg, which is also uploaded on RUclips, after watching this video.
This awesome, Tyler. Thank you!!!!
Great tutorial! Thank you!
This is a great lesson, thanks so much!
yo man i thanked you for this tutorial a while ago when i first discovered it, but i just wanna say thanks again.
i actually learned to play the full thing. practicing is something else man. thanks
+dwayne byous You are more than welcome. I have to get back into it myself.
Great lesson, Tyler! I have one suggestion. I think it makes more sense to play the 6/9 chords in the intro with a 3rd, 6th, 9th inversion in the right hand (e.g. B, E and A for the first G-6/9 chord with the B a perfect fourth above the F# you are playing in the video - technically a 6/9 chord does not include the major 7th anyway and the E instead of D changes the optional 5th to a 6th which is more appropriate for a 6/9 chord). Playing the 6/9 chord with this inversion requires only a simple downward shift of 1semitone from B to B flat with the right hand thumb for the second chord (F#7#9). Same sequence for the rest of the intro. I think this is actually the correct inversion, with the guitar chord in the track making it sound like a lower inversion. I could be wrong about that but in any case, this way is easier and it sounds just as good. My two cents!
Great lesson thank you!!
Thats what its all about man. Glad I could help.
Many thanks
I’d like to hear what the negative harmony version of this song sounds like.
Great tutorial!
Thank you for this! We have a gig coming up and our band, 20% Cooler, wanted to add this to our song list. You have just saved my bacon, because I was really struggling with the changes. Now, you wouldn't, by chance, have a lesson for Tell Me Something Good by Rufus/Chaka Khan? That's another one they added that I'm trying to work up. Again, thank you for the lesson!
Glad I can help. I do know "Tell Me Something Good" but no lesson up for it. I can tell you it's not hard to figure out and most of the chord charts online are accurate.
EXCELENT JOB! THX
Nice
Thanks Tyler. Any chance of a "Minute By Minute" tutorial?
This is a very challenging song
This one will be a doozy. A lot of pausing and play back. Thanks for laying it out!
Thanks for another good one!
that was so much help!
Hey man, your tutorials are great! Would you be able to make one for Uncle Remus by Frank Zappa, always wanted to learn that song. Could never find sheet music for it.
great ! thanks .
Good ear.. but I don't think so. It's primarily a C major blues, using mostly C maj pentatonic for the melody aside from the one F over the Gmaj. I think it falls under the "necessary dissonance" category for Fagen.
Do you take request? It would be cool if you could do music of the mind by jamiroquai.
that mystery chord looked like a Esus4 b5
Thank you Very Much... 😐
Sir you work in a radio? Because you have this tup off voice. Thank you for the vidrp
Hi. Great vid, thanks. At the V chord, it sound like fagen sings an F natural on the word "smile." The chord voicing would have to be adjusted from a GMaj7 to a quick G triad or 7th chord, no? Thanks in advance.
I thought that might be the case. Here's a vid of Fagen explaining the changes. I can't really tell, but it does look like he's playing the F# with the thumb of his right hand @ 4:23. Thanks for responding!
how long did it take you to learn?
Whats with the 6/9? They are 9 or 6 , none are both.
Tums up.
Sorry, youtube isn't letting me post the link! It's titled - Steely Dan - Peg - Piano Lesson
I think is is good but I can’t get past the beginning.
Thanks for the video, mate. Your playing is great and accurate, but you are naming almost all the chords (except the ones with the 9#) wrongly
There's no 6th in that first chord.
So call it a d6 with a G bass and stfu
A sus 2 / C#